ATV' s I would like to hear opinions
 

I would like some opinions on their suitability for hunting....I have used them before to pack out some Elk and thought they were a Godsend but lately I hear a lot of troubling reports from other Hunters who have seen some mighty irresponsible behaviour exhibited by some riders.

RE: ATV' s I would like to hear opinions
 

When I see older hunters cruising old logging roads or primitive roads which are open to all vehicles or on 4 wheeler designated roads I think atv' s are good because it allows them to still be in the woods having a great time hunting.

When I see the game trails I was scouting from in August torn up from guys on atvs seeing how far they can get down the trail over Labor day then I know they are a bad thing. Also if person gets game down and they use their atv to forge a trail to the animal so they don' t have to carry it out that is bad.

Generally where I hunt I like the atv' s because I use them for taxi service.
After I get my animal down I pack it to the nearest atv accessable trail/road and wait till one comes along and get a ride back to my camp.
Also the more guys that are up on the roads riding their atvs the less guys that are in the woods competing with me for the trophys.

Here in Idaho they are doing several tests in areas where they have restricted atv access to roads that a truck can go down. If a truck can' t go down it neither can your atv. I think in the future that will be the rule in most areas with a few designated trails for atv usage.

RE: ATV' s I would like to hear opinions
 

I can' t go hunting without one, I' m disabled and can' t walk! Some people are " lazy" and ride everywere,that' s the kind of people that give ALL ATV users a bad name. I would trade places with anyone and walk instead of useing my Honda if I could...:(

RE: ATV' s I would like to hear opinions
 

This is a real sad deal. The high amount of people buying these things is resulting in a lot of irresponsible people using them and thats ruining it for the rest of us. There is nothing wrong with ATV' s. I' ve never seen one start itself up and tear up a hillside, its always the idiot sitting on top. I like them because they' re a lot faster than a truck. In many areas true a truck can go anywhere an ATV can but what might be a 1 hour drive turns into 20 minutes on an ATV. Gas is lots cheaper and you' re not putting wear and tear on your truck. Knowing the law is key to these situations. Its pretty much stick to a road or designated ATV trail throughout Utah and unless the law has changed in the last few months you can take your ATV off the trail to recover a downed animal. To keep this we just need to be responsible about it. A wench (oops, its spelled winch) helps a lot, then you don' t have tires spinning and tearing up ground.

I almost forgot to mention. An able bodied person shouldn' t hunt on top of one, thats road hunting and your chances of seeing game, especially trophy game is slim. We use them to get to areas quickly from camp and then the hiking begins.

RE: ATV' s I would like to hear opinions
 

rather be,
I agree with your reply, makes sense. I think you folks in Utah have about the same situation we have here in Idaho with ATV' s. The advantage we may have is there is a lot of wilderness (no motorized vehicles) and a ton of country here with no trails at all so it is easy to get away from the ATV' s.

I just wonder what your trick is to get your wench to ride on the back and push your atv out when you get stuck.
I' m lucky if I can get my wench to even roll out of the sleeping bag before noon.

Sorry couldn' t resist, just messin with ya.
Have a good one!

RE: ATV' s I would like to hear opinions
 

I agree completely with all the replies I have read so far.... If everyone using one stuck to a designated road and didn' t road hunt off one it would be fine.

RE: ATV' s I would like to hear opinions
 

I gotta chime in on this one. Unfortunately, I have to report by repeated personal experience that the vast majority of ATV users here in the Gunnison Basin do not use them to the highest degree of responsiblility and ethical standards. To put it bluntly: They are having a significantly negative impact on the quality of hunting in this area. To me, hunting is strictly a privilage, and not a God or constitutional given right. I believe that if you want to hunt, that you have the responsibility to to keep your mind and body in a condition that allows you to do it without employing such disruptive technology. ATV' s are simply not compatible with one of the most profound essences of the sports: Solitude. Sure. I am familiar with most of the arguments in favor of using these tools, but I can' t get over repeated negative images and experiences connected with them. Even the manufacturers ads for these things are an embarassment, and put hunting and fishing in a poor light. I' m sorry. I hate ' em and I can' t help feeling that many of the people astride them are somehow of inferior character and less respectful of the outdoors and those that they share it with. ( even though I know that they are just folks that see things differently than some of us)

RE: ATV' s I would like to hear opinions
 

I wish the rule here was that they stay in the truck till game is down. They are a godsend when getting a moose out but they have been abused by many and in some cases wildlife managers are having to take into account higher harvests because ATV`s are allowing more " hunters" access to areas that before were to hard for all but the most determined of hunters.

RE: ATV' s I would like to hear opinions
 

If respect is shown in riding them then they usually don' t create problems. Then again, respect seems to be lacking in a few people who ruin it for the rest these days and that is where the problem lies. I don' t own an ATV but my brother helped me haul out a moose with one and it was much appreciated. If people would use more common sense when riding them we wouldn' t hear so much for complaints. I don' t really like them much but I do respect those who ride them properly.

My brother in law was killed in an ATV accident and although it was an accident, I probably won' t buy one out of respect for my sister. There is also a pride factor for me as I like to hunt as simply as possible. On top of that, I can' t see spending $5k on a machine that I' d only use a few times a year. I don' t live on a farm or far enough in the country where I' d use it enough. Maybe some day when my legs give out then it would be nice if I want to get to a hunting location.

RE: ATV' s I would like to hear opinions
 

Beans Morocco do you drive a truck or SUV to your hunting area or do you walk from home? An ATV is no different than a truck, it' s a little smaller but thats it. A truck and an ATV can be used responsibly or irresponsibly. I' m sorry to hear about your problems in your area but its the idiots on them that are causing the problem not the machines. If you hate ATV' s because SOME people don' t use them responsibly then you just justified those people who say we should outlaw guns because they' re used in crimes.